U.S. patent application number 14/211865 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-18 for injection closure system.
This patent application is currently assigned to MCCORMICK & COMPANY, INCORPORATED. The applicant listed for this patent is MCCORMICK & COMPANY, INCORPORATED. Invention is credited to Darin Pugne, James A. Whisenhunt, Tracie L.C. Wilson.
Application Number | 20140263473 14/211865 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51523052 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140263473 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wilson; Tracie L.C. ; et
al. |
September 18, 2014 |
INJECTION CLOSURE SYSTEM
Abstract
An injection closure system includes a bottle containing a
product to be distributed and a closure attached to the bottle and
including nozzles. Each of the nozzles includes two holes through
which the product is distributed from the bottle. The bottle
includes a plurality of teeth extending around an outer surface of
the bottle and the closure includes a plurality of teeth extending
around an inner surface of the closure. When the closure is in a
fully attached position on the bottle, the teeth of the bottle
contact the teeth of the closure to prevent the closure from being
removed from the bottle.
Inventors: |
Wilson; Tracie L.C.;
(Westminster, MD) ; Whisenhunt; James A.;
(Independence, MO) ; Pugne; Darin; (Pittsburgh,
PA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
MCCORMICK & COMPANY, INCORPORATED |
Sparks |
MD |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
MCCORMICK & COMPANY,
INCORPORATED
Sparks
MD
|
Family ID: |
51523052 |
Appl. No.: |
14/211865 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61798509 |
Mar 15, 2013 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/482 ;
222/478; 222/562; 222/567 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2251/0025 20130101;
B65D 47/127 20130101; B65D 1/0246 20130101; B65D 51/18 20130101;
B65D 55/022 20130101; B65D 2251/0078 20130101; B65D 47/42 20130101;
B65D 2255/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/482 ;
222/478; 222/567; 222/562 |
International
Class: |
B65D 47/12 20060101
B65D047/12 |
Claims
1. An injection closure system, comprising a bottle containing a
product to be distributed; and a closure attached to the bottle and
including nozzles, each of the nozzles including two holes through
which the product is distributed from the bottle.
2. The injection closure system of claim 1, further comprising: a
removable fitment positioned between the bottle and the closure,
wherein the removable fitment prevents the closure from reaching a
fully attached position on the bottle.
3. The injection closure system of claim 1, wherein the bottle
includes teeth extending outward from an outer surface of the
bottle, and the closure includes teeth extending inward from an
inner surface of the bottle.
4. The injection closure system of claim 3, wherein when the
closure is in a fully attached position on the bottle, the teeth of
the bottle contact the teeth of the closure to prevent the closure
from being removed from the bottle.
5. The injection closure system of claim 1, further comprising: a
removable overcap positioned on the closure.
6. The injection closure system of claim 1, wherein the system
includes four of the nozzles.
7. The injection closure system of claim 1, wherein each of the
nozzles has a tapered shape such that a diameter of the nozzle
decreases from a base of the nozzle to a tip of the nozzle.
8. An injection closure system, comprising a bottle containing a
product to be distributed, the bottle including a plurality of
teeth extending around an outer surface of the bottle; and a
closure attached to the bottle and including at least one nozzle,
the closure including a plurality of teeth extending around an
inner surface of the closure, wherein when the closure is in a
fully attached position on the bottle, the teeth of the bottle
contact the teeth of the closure to prevent the closure from being
removed from the bottle.
9. The injection closure system of claim 8, further comprising: a
removable fitment positioned between the bottle and the closure,
wherein the removable fitment prevents the closure from reaching
the fully attached position on the bottle.
10. The injection closure system of claim 8, further comprising: a
removable overcap positioned on the closure.
11. The injection closure system of claim 8, wherein the nozzle
includes two holes through which product is distributed from the
bottle.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S.
Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/798,509, "Injection Closure
System" filed Mar. 15, 2013, for which the entire content is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The exemplary embodiments described herein are directed to
an injection closure system. The system includes a bottle with an
injection closure attached thereto.
[0003] Consumers of certain food products such as meat, for example
steak, chicken, or fish, frequently add seasoning to their meat
prior to cooking. One such seasoning is a liquid marinade.
Typically, the consumer will add the marinade by pouring it over
the meat and keeping the meat in the marinade for a period of time
before cooking.
[0004] However, such conventional ways of seasoning the meat
typically will only season the outside of the meat. Even if some of
the marinade does reach the inside of the meat, the marinade is not
evenly distributed throughout the meat. The result is that
different parts of the meat will have different flavor.
SUMMARY
[0005] The exemplary embodiments described herein provide the
consumer with a way to evenly distribute marinade within their
favorite foods.
[0006] An exemplary injection closure system includes a bottle
containing a product to be distributed and a closure attached to
the bottle and including nozzles. Each of the nozzles includes two
holes through which the product is distributed from the bottle.
[0007] Another exemplary injection closure system includes a bottle
containing a product to be distributed and a closure attached to
the bottle and including at least one nozzle. The bottle includes a
plurality of teeth extending around an outer surface of the bottle
and the closure includes a plurality of teeth extending around an
inner surface of the closure. When the closure is in a fully
attached position on the bottle, the teeth of the bottle contact
the teeth of the closure to prevent the closure from being removed
from the bottle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of
the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the
same becomes better understood by reference to the following
detailed description when considered in connection with the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the bottle with
injection closure;
[0010] FIG. 2 shows the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 shows the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary injection closure;
[0013] FIG. 5 shows an exemplary injection closure;
[0014] FIG. 6 shows a cross-section of an exemplary embodiment of
the bottle with injection closure;
[0015] FIG. 7 shows a portion of an exemplary injection
closure;
[0016] FIG. 8 shows a portion of an exemplary bottle;
[0017] FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of a bottle;
[0018] FIG. 10 shows a cross-section of the bottle shown in FIG. 9
with another embodiment of a closure;
[0019] FIG. 11 shows a cross-section of the exemplary bottle and
closure of FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 12 shows a cross-section of a neck portion of another
exemplary bottle;
[0021] FIG. 13 shows another exemplary injection closure;
[0022] FIG. 14 shows another exemplary injection closure;
[0023] FIG. 15 shows another exemplary injection closure;
[0024] FIG. 16 shows an exemplary embodiment of the components of
an injection closure system;
[0025] FIG. 17 shows another exemplary embodiment of the components
of an injection closure system;
[0026] FIG. 18 shows an exemplary embodiment of the injection
closure system in the removable position; and
[0027] FIG. 19 shows an exemplary embodiment of the injection
closure system in the non-removable position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference
numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the
several views, FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of an injection
closure system. The system includes a bottle 10 with a closure 12
attached thereto. As described more fully below, the closure 12 can
be screwed onto the bottle 10. A removable overcap 14 is positioned
on the closure 12.
[0029] FIG. 2 shows a view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1
with the closure 12 and overcap 14 removed from the bottle. A
fitment 16 is positioned on an opening in a neck of the bottle 10
and includes a seal to close the opening of the bottle 10 in order
to keep the contents of the bottle 10 fresh and provide leak
resistance for the bottle 10. The seal is an induction seal
inserted into the fitment 16. FIG. 17 shows an exploded view of the
bottle 10, fitment 16, closure 12, and overcap 14.
[0030] In an alternative embodiment, the fitment 16 could have a
plug seal that is inserted into the neck of the bottle 10 to seal
the opening, as shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 16 shows an exploded view of
the bottle 10, fitment 16, closure 12, and overcap 14 of FIG.
6.
[0031] The fitment 16 is snapped over a bead at the top of the neck
of the bottle 10. The fitment 16 can be attached to the bottle 10
by either being inserted up into the closure 12 and applied during
capping when the closure 12 is torqued onto the bottle 10 in a
capper or it could be applied separately to the bottle 10 by a
fitment applicator prior to capping.
[0032] The closure 12 includes angled teeth 18 extending around an
inside surface thereof, as shown in FIG. 5. An exemplary embodiment
of the some of the teeth 18 on the inside surface of the closure 12
is shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 7 shows exemplary angles, length, and
pitch for the teeth 18 of the closure 12. The bottle 10 includes
angled teeth 20 extending around an outside surface thereof A top
view of a neck portion of the bottle 10 is shown in FIG. 12. An
exemplary embodiment of the some of the teeth 20 on the outside
surface of the bottle 10 is shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 8 shows exemplary
angles, length, and pitch for the teeth 20 of the bottle 10. In an
exemplary embodiment, the bottle 10 could includes two separate
sets of seven teeth 20 positioned on opposite sides of the outside
surface thereof Alternatively, the teeth 20 could extend all of the
way around an outside surface of the bottle 10.
[0033] When the fitment 16 is positioned on the opening of the
bottle 10 as shown in FIG. 2, the closure 12 can only be partially
screwed onto the bottle 10, as shown in FIG. 1. The thickness of
the fitment 16 prevents the closure 12 from being screwed far
enough onto the bottle 10 for the teeth 18 of the closure 12 to
contact the teeth 20 of the bottle 10. As seen in FIG. 2, a ring
portion of the fitment 16 extends from a top of the neck of the
bottle 10 to prevent the teeth 18 of the closure 12 from contacting
the teeth 20 of the bottle 10. Thus, the closure 12 is in the
removable position (see FIG. 18) such that the consumer is unable
to lock the closure 12 onto the bottle 10, as described further
below, with the fitment 16 still attached to the bottle 10.
[0034] The fitment 16 is removed from the bottle 10 by lifting up
along the edge of the fitment 16. A gap between the edge of the
fitment 16 and an edge of the bottle 10 is wide enough between the
fitment 16 and the neck of the bottle 10 to get a finger under and
lift.
[0035] After the fitment 16 is removed from the bottle 10 by the
consumer, the closure 12 can be fully screwed onto the bottle 10
(i.e. reach a fully attached position shown in FIG. 3) such that
the teeth 18 of the closure 12 contact the teeth 20 of the bottle
10. The teeth 18, 20 are angled as discussed above such that they
slide over one another when the closure 12 is being screwed onto
the bottle 10 and contact one another when the user attempts to
unscrew the closure 12 from the bottle 10.
[0036] The teeth 18, 20 act as a non-removable locking feature by
contacting one another, as shown in FIG. 11, to prevent the user
from unscrewing the closure 12 from the bottle 10. When the closure
12 is fully screwed onto the bottle 10 such that the teeth 18, 20
prevent the removable of the closure 12 from the bottle, the
closure 12 is in a non-removable position (see FIG. 19). Because of
the non-removable locking feature, in an exemplary embodiment, the
consumer will not be able to refill the bottle 10 such that the
bottle 10 will be discarded after it has been used. This prevents
the consumer from re-using the bottle after the closure has been in
contact with raw meat products, as discussed further below.
[0037] In an alternative embodiment, the teeth 20 can be positioned
around an inside surface of the neck of the bottle 10, as shown in
FIG. 9. The teeth 18 can extend outwardly from a ring within the
closure 12, as shown in FIG. 10. With the teeth 20 being positioned
within the bottle 10 in this embodiment, the fitment 16 would
prevent the teeth 18 of the closure 12 from contacting the teeth 20
of the bottle 10 while the fitment 16 is in place on top of the
neck of the bottle 10. However, when the fitment 16 is removed and
the closure 12 is screwed onto the bottle 10, the teeth 18, 20
again act as a non-removable locking feature by contacting one
another to prevent the user from unscrewing the closure 12 from the
bottle 10.
[0038] As shown in greater detail in FIG. 4, the closure 12 has
four built-in injector nozzles 22. The product within the bottle 10
is dispensed through the injector nozzles 22 of the closure 12. The
injector nozzles 22 are tapered to allow the nozzles 22 to pierce
the food into which the product in the bottle 10 is to be injected.
Each nozzle 22 is tapered such that a width of the nozzle
continuously decreases from a base of the nozzle to a tip of the
nozzle.
[0039] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4, each nozzle 22
includes a tip portion which has a greater taper than the rest of
the nozzle. The tip portion ends in a flat surface that extends
radially from an axis of the nozzle 22 and the holes 24 are not
located within the flat surface to prevent clogging. In an
alternative embodiment, the tip portion could taper down to a point
(FIG. 13) or the flat surface could be angled (FIG. 14) relative to
the axis of the nozzle such that it does not extend radially.
Alternatively, the entire nozzle could have a constant taper down
to a point or a flat surface (FIG. 15).
[0040] In an exemplary embodiment, the product within the bottle 10
can be a wet sauce, for example a marinade, which is injected into
food, for example steak or chicken, for enhancing the flavor of the
food. By injecting the marinade into the meat, the bottle 10 with
injection closure 12 allows for the meat to marinate from the
inside out. The nozzles 22 are sized to prevent the nozzle 22 from
passing through a standard cut of meat so that the product will not
be injected out of the other side of the meat. In a preferred
embodiment, the nozzles 22 are each from 0.4375'' to 0.625'' long,
and more preferably are 0.528'' long. However, the length of each
nozzle could be re-sized for different cuts of meat. For example,
an injection closure system designed to be used with thin cuts of
meat, such as chicken cutlets or pork chops, would have shorter
nozzles than an injection closure system designed to be used with a
rotisserie chicken or whole turkey.
[0041] The injector nozzles 22 each have an interior channel 28
(see FIG. 5) that leads to two holes 24 at a specific placement in
the nozzle 22 to allow product to be dispensed from the nozzles 22
into the meat. The holes 24 are positioned on a side of the nozzles
22 so that the meat does not clog the holes 24, thereby preventing
the product from being dispensed from the nozzles 22. On each
nozzle 22, one of the holes 24 is larger than the other hole 24.
The smaller of the two holes 24 is sized to allow passage of the
product without the product clogging in the hole and the bigger of
the two holes 24 is sized to prevent the product from spilling out
of the nozzle 24 in a larger amount than desired. Additionally, one
of the holes 24 is positioned on an opposite side of the nozzle 22
from the other hole 24 (i.e., 180.degree. apart) and neither hole
is facing towards a center of the closure. The holes 24 are
positioned at a same height along the nozzle 22. Further, the holes
24 are positioned such that the large hole 24 from one of the
nozzles 22 is closer to the small hole 24 from the closest nozzle
22 than the large hole 24 of that closest nozzle 22.
[0042] The width of the channel 28 in each nozzle 22 is important
to control the flow of the liquid product when the bottle 10 is
squeezed as the channel width also effects the flowability of the
product. When the channel 28 is too wide, the product pours out too
fast. When the channel 28 is too small, the product clogs similar
to the hole sizes. In an exemplary embodiment, the preferred inside
diameter range of the channel is 0.115'' to 0.140''. The preferred
holes sizes are: for both large and small, width ranges from
0.035'' to 0.050'' (more preferably 0.040''). The small hole length
preferably ranges from 0.050'' to 0.060'' (more preferably 0.050'')
and the large hole length preferably ranges from 0.050'' to 0.150''
(more preferably 0.125'').
[0043] The number, size, and arrangement of the nozzles 22 and
holes 24 allows for uniform distribution of the product from the
closure 12 into the meat. The sizes of the channel 28 and holes 24
can be determined based on the product contained in the bottle
10.
[0044] In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the closure can
include fewer or greater than four nozzles and each nozzle can
include one hole or more than one hole, and the size and
positioning of each hole can be different than the above-described
embodiment. For example, each nozzle can include two holes
90.degree. apart or each nozzle can include three holes placed at
different heights along the nozzle. Changing the number, size, and
arrangement of the nozzles 22 and holes 24 will alter the
distribution of the product.
[0045] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the closure
12 includes a ring 26 surrounding the nozzles 22 such that each
nozzle 22 is positioned within the ring 26. The ring 26 is raised
from the top surface of the closure 12 to help reduce splashing of
the product from between the closure 12 and the meat. In an
alternative embodiment, the ring 26 can be omitted from the closure
12.
[0046] Next, an exemplary method for using the bottle with
injection closure is described.
[0047] When the consumer purchases the injection closure system
shown in FIGS. 1-4, the consumer will unscrew the closure 12 from
the bottle 10 and remove the fitment 16. After the fitment 16 is
removed, the closure 12 is screwed onto the bottle 10 until the
teeth 18 of the closure 12 overlap with the teeth 20 of the bottle
10 such that the closure 12 is no longer removable from the bottle
10 by unscrewing. The overcap 14 is removed from the closure 12 and
then the nozzles 22 are inserted into the food. The bottle 10 is
then squeezed to force the product out of the holes 24 of the
nozzles 22 and into the food. The consumer then removes the nozzles
22 from the food and, when the nozzle 22 has contacted raw meat,
discards the bottle 10 and closure 12 due to contamination. Thus,
the injection closure system can be for a one-time use.
Alternatively, when the nozzles 22 have not been in contact with
raw meat, the consumer can replace the overcap 14 on the closure 12
for storage.
[0048] As can be seen in the drawings, the bottle 10 is tapered
such that the bottle 10 increases in size from the bottom to a
shoulder portion thereof and then decreases in size from the
shoulder portion to the neck. This shape of bottle 10 allows the
consumer to easily grasp the bottle 10 to insert the nozzles 22
into meat and squeeze the bottle 10 to dispense product
therefrom.
[0049] In an exemplary embodiment, the bottle preferably holds from
2 oz. to 6 oz., more preferably 4 oz, of the product. As noted
above, the product can be a marinade or another liquid flavor.
[0050] In an exemplary embodiment, the bottle 10 material is made
from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) for easy squeezing. The
overcap 14 is clear polypropylene (PP). In an alternative
embodiment, the overcap 14 is polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The
fitment 16 is either LDPE or high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and
the injection closure 12 is PP. All elements of the injection
system can be injection molded, with the bottle 10 being injection
blow molded or extrusion blow molded.
[0051] It should be appreciated that the present disclosure is not
limited to the exemplary embodiments shown and described above.
Instead, various alternatives, modifications, variations and/or
improvements, whether known or that are, or may be, presently
unforeseen, may become apparent. Accordingly, the exemplary
embodiments, as set forth above are intended to be illustrative,
not limiting. The various changes may be made without departing
from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Therefore, the systems
and methods according to the exemplary embodiments are intended to
embrace all now known or later-developed alternatives,
modifications, variations and/or improvements.
* * * * *